HomeFirst pre-flyby images now available!
First pre-flyby images now available! Largest view of Lutetia shows asteroid at a distance of 80,000 km. Better yet to come!!
All images: CREDIT: (C) ESA 2010 MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/RSSD/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA
12 comments | "First pre-flyby images now available!"
11-07-2010 • 11:30:14
No, this photo is not in true color. The color of the asteroid is not known at this point.
Color extraction needs further processing.
10-07-2010 • 22:39:31
Is this photo in true color?
10-07-2010 • 21:35:20
That looks nice !
I hope that the pictures at closest approach will be great.
Best regards to the team
Michel
10-07-2010 • 21:07:11
The red coloration is apparently a product of aeons of bombardment by solar radiation and micrometeoroids, which cause the surface more reflective at longer wavelengths than shorter ones.
I wonder what it looks like in infrared vs. ultraviolet?
More info at http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002577/
10-07-2010 • 21:58:54
Hmm, groundbased NIR spectra show no noticeable slope in 0.8 - 2.5 \mu m range. Let's wait for proper calibrated images.
10-07-2010 • 19:57:16
Somebody can explain why this object is pink ?
10-07-2010 • 20:56:51
Hello Appel
The red colour would come from organic materials on this asteroid.
It is thought that quite a number of asteroids have reddish surfaces.
Most are found in the more distant parts of the asteroid belt, plus the Trojan ones that co-orbit with Jupiter.
Now for Lutetia we don't know if it is due to a collision with one small asteriod (or even comet) that have spread organics on the surface. Or if it is the main material found all the way to the core.
And I guess we wont have a firm answer soon, such facts are often findings that can be discussed in scientific papers months to come.
10-07-2010 • 19:05:35
25' 21" for sunlight to reach the spacecraft. Of course, it's downhill all the way. ;-)
10-07-2010 • 18:34:06
It is red !
10-07-2010 • 19:30:13
A red apple. Sorry couldn't resist :p
But yes, that colour a hint of organics on the surface.
10-07-2010 • 20:45:44
Ha ha ! It is not the first time for this joke !
10-07-2010 • 18:26:23
Thanks! Just what I hoped for - a full rotation...